STORY:
Iran Blames U.S. for Possible Y2K Problems

Iran says US sanctions slowing down their Y2K compliance efforts

Much of Iran’s oil refinery technology was bought from the United States before the 1979 Islamic revolution. Because the equipment is U.S. made, Iran said it tried to get the U.S. to send updated parts but trade sanctions prohibited the transaction.

The Arak oil refinery is one large facility that was looking for help in updating its computer equipment. The plant in Iran’s Markazi province faced potential problems because nearly all of its equipment was U.S. made. When the U.S. would not help, plant officials had to look elsewhere for updated parts. Arak did buy new Y2K-compliant parts but didn’t know if the new equipment would work with the old.

The United States slapped a trade embargo on Iran following the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran by revolutionary militants. The parts used at the Arak oil refinery were purchased before that time.

Last week, Mohammed Sepehri-Rad, head of the Supreme council for Information Technology, told his countrymen that they could face breakdowns in the oil, electricity, communications, transportation and health sectors because of Y2K. However, Sepehri-Rad modified that warning this week telling reporters that no problems were expected in any Iranian organization.

Iran believes it is ready now for Y2K because emergency plans have been put into place, and because all workers have been trained to perform computer tasks manually. A British consulting firm that has been monitoring Y2K readiness ranks Iran as "moderately prepared" for the millennium bug.

Source: Associated Press

DATE: 12/7/99

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